El Nino puts India on high health-risk radar, says WHO

El Nino puts India on high health-risk radar, says WHO NEW DELHI: With dengue cases rising in several parts of the country, a WHO assessment has flagged India among nations facing high or very high health risks as a strengthening El Nino event alters weather patterns across South Asia.El Nino is a periodic warming of surface waters in central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that can disrupt weather patterns around the world, influencing rainfall and temperatures far beyond the Pacific.WHO's Global Public Health Situation Analysis - El Nino 2026, released on Sept 5, has identified India as being at high or very high risk, with most of South Asia expected to experience drier-than-normal conditions and above-normal heat during Aug-Oct.The warning comes at a time when vector-borne diseases are already rising in parts of the country. In Delhi, 90 dengue cases were reported in Aug, the highest monthly tally this year, taking the total to 311 by Aug 29. Malaria cases also rose from 17 in July to 53 in Aug, taking the year's tally to 119, according to Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The agency does not link current dengue or malaria cases directly to El Nino, but calls it a risk modifier, with impacts depending on local weather, vulnerability and health-system capacity. For India, heat is a key concern, with higher temperatures potentially causing heat exhaustion and heatstroke and worsening cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney and metabolic illnesses.Extreme heat may also affect maternal and newborn outcomes. Other concerns include malnutrition, food insecurity and worsening non-communicable diseases. Changes in rainfall and water availability could affect food production, while heavy rain and flooding can increase the risk of leptospirosis, particularly where sanitation and drainage are poor. WHO has also flagged the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders, where displacement could increase the risk of cross-border disease transmission. Anuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.